Flat handlebar grips

Abstract

This invention provides handlebar grips with an ergonomic flattened grip cross section. The grips can be rotatably mounted to the inside of handlebar tubes, e.g., for a choice of grip angles and to act as throttle grips for motorized vehicles.

1 . A handlebar grip for a vehicle, the grips comprising: 
 a long axis; and,    a cross section perpendicular to the long axis, the cross section comprising an aspect ratio of 3 or more;    thereby providing a rider of the vehicle with improved comfort or leverage over a similar grip with a lesser cross section aspect ratio.    
   
   
       2 . The grip of  claim 1 , mounted to a handlebar tube, and wherein a least diameter of the grip cross section is less than an outer diameter of a handlebar tube to which it is mounted.  
   
   
       3 . The grip of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of: a motorcycle, a bicycle, a mobility device for disabled persons, a snow mobile, and a jet ski.  
   
   
       4 . The grip of  claim 1 , wherein the grip further comprises a cylindrical mounting end adapted for insertion into an end of a cylindrical tubular handle bar of the vehicle.  
   
   
       5 . The grip of  claim 1 , wherein the long axis comprises a length of 8 inches or more.  
   
   
       6 . The grip of  claim 1 , wherein the cross section comprises an aspect ratio of 4 or more.  
   
   
       7 . The grip of  claim 1 , wherein the grip withstands a force of 150 ft lbs or more across the long axis.  
   
   
       8 . The grip of  claim 1 , further comprising a clutch control in functional association with a clutch or a throttle interface in functional association with a throttle control.  
   
   
       9 . A handlebar grip for a vehicle, the grip comprising: 
 a grip body comprising: a long axis; a cross section perpendicular to the long axis; a cylindrical mounting end; and a hand grip section; and,    a compression mount device functionally associated with the mounting end;    wherein the cross section of the grip body has an aspect ratio of 2 or more.    
   
   
       10 . The grip of  claim 9 , wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of: a motorcycle, a bicycle, a mobility device for disabled persons, a now mobile, and a jet ski.  
   
   
       11 . The grip of  claim 9 , wherein the cylindrical mounting end adapted for insertion into an end of a cylindrical tubular handle bar of the vehicle.  
   
   
       12 . The grip of  claim 11 , wherein the inserted and mounted grip can be rotated about the long axis with hand pressure but not pulled out from the handle bar with a force of 200 pounds or less.  
   
   
       13 . The grip of  claim 9 , mounted to a handlebar tube, and wherein a least diameter of the grip cross-section is less than an outer diameter of a handlebar tube to which it is mounted.  
   
   
       14 . The grip of  claim 9 , wherein the compression mount device comprises: a split bushing, a frictional resilient plug, rubber or thermoplastic elastomers.  
   
   
       15 . The grip of  claim 9 , wherein the cross section comprises an aspect ratio of 3 or more.  
   
   
       16 . The grip of  claim 9 , wherein the grip withstands a force of 150 ft lbs or more across the long axis without breaking.  
   
   
       17 . A throttle grip for a vehicle handlebar, the grip comprising: 
 a throttle grip body comprising: a long axis; a cross-section perpendicular to the long axis; a cylindrical mounting end; and a hand grip section; wherein:    a proximal portion of the grip section comprises a throttle interface;    the mounting end is adapted to be rotationally mounted within an axial cavity of the handlebar; and,    the cross section of the grip body has an aspect ratio of 2 or more.    
   
   
       18 . The throttle grip of  claim 17 , wherein the throttle interface comprises set screws to mount the throttle grip to a throttle rotor.  
   
   
       19 . The throttle grip of  claim 17 , wherein a thumb indent of the hand grip section has an aspect ration at least 25% lower than a distal end of the hand grip section.  
   
   
       20 . The throttle grip of  claim 17 , wherein a least diameter of the grip cross-section is less than an outer diameter of the handlebar.  
   
   
       21 . The throttle grip of  claim 17 , wherein a proximal end of the mounting end comprises a low friction o-ring or bushing.  
   
   
       22 . A motorcycle handlebar comprising: 
 a first grip body comprising: a long axis; a cross section perpendicular to the long axis; a cylindrical mounting end; a compression mount device functionally associated with the mounting end; and, a hand grip section with a cross section comprising an aspect ratio of 2 or more;    a throttle grip body comprising: a long axis; a cross section perpendicular to the long axis; a cylindrical mounting end; a throttle control interface; and, a hand grip section with a cross section comprising an aspect ratio of 2 or more; and,    one or more cylindrical tubular cross members comprising a first end with an axial cavity adapted to functionally receive the first grip body mounting end, and a second end with an axial cavity adapted to functionally receive the throttle grip body mounting end.    
   
   
       23 . The handle bar of  claim 22 , wherein the grip bodies are cast metal, and further comprising resilient grip covers mounted over the hand grip sections.  
   
   
       24 . The handle bar of  claim 22 , wherein the grip bodies can withstand a force of 150 ft-lbs or more across the long axis without breaking.  
   
   
       25 . A handlebar grip that is mounted with a mounting end inside a handlebar tube.  
   
   
       26 . A hand grip for a vehicle handlebar, the hand grip comprising: 
 a grip body comprising a hand grip section, wherein a least cross-sectional diameter of the grip section is less than an outer diameter of the handlebar.    
   
   
       27 . A throttle grip for a vehicle handlebar, the grip comprising: 
 a throttle grip body comprising: a long axis; a cross section perpendicular to the long axis; a cylindrical mounting end; and a hand grip section; and,    a first bushing separated from a second bushing along the cylindrical mounting end;    wherein:    a proximal portion of the grip section comprises a throttle interface; and,    the mounting end is adapted to be rotationally mounted within an axial cavity of the handlebar.    
   
   
       28 . The throttle grip of  claim 27 , wherein the first and second bushings are separated by one or more clips, or separated by a spacer bushing.  
   
   
       29 . The throttle grip of  claim 27 , further comprising a resilient sleeve or a tape wrapped around the first bushing or second bushing, thereby adjusting a bushing diameter.  
   
   
       30 . The throttle grip of  claim 29 , wherein the tape or sleeve comprises an adhesive or a foam.  
   
   
       31 . The throttle grip of  claim 27 , wherein the cross section of the hand grip section has an aspect ratio of more than 2.  
   
   
       32 . A handlebar grip for a vehicle, the grip comprising: 
 a grip body comprising: a long axis; a cross section perpendicular to the long axis; a mounting end; and a hand grip section; and,    one or more tapes wrapped around the mounting end, thereby adjusting a diameter of the mounting end to substantially contact an inner circumference of a handlebar tube when the grip is mounted into the handlebar.    
   
   
       33 . The grip of  claim 32 , wherein the tapes comprise an adhesive or a foam.  
   
   
       34 . The grip of  claim 32 , further comprising a compression mount device functionally associated with the mounting end.  
   
   
       35 . The grip of  claim 32 , wherein the cross section of the grip body has an aspect ratio of more than 2.